Bag package



Dec. 15, 1964 G. H. HANNON 3,161,347

BAG PACKAGE Filed Aug. 20, 1962 INVENTOR. GILBERT H. HANNON BYWMATTORNEY I United States Patent Ofiice 3,161,347 Patented Dec. 15, 19643,161,347 BAG PACKAGE Gilbert H. Hannah, 551 Nicolet Road, Rte. 1, GreenBay, Wis. Filed Aug. Ztl, 1952, Ser. No. 217,860 7 Claims. (0. 229-69)This invention relates to packaging and more particularly to a new andimproved arrangement of open ended bags and a method of filling saidbags.

One of the problems existing under the mass merchandising system of ourpresent day trade practice is the difficulty of packaging cornmericalproducts by hand and by machine. Complicated electrical mechanicalautomatic packaging machines have been provided but these machinesusually have been designed for a particular prodnot or group ofproducts. Each time a new product or line of products had to bepackaged, new packaging equipment was designed at great cost and loss oftime.

Therefore a need exists for a simple and inexpensive sanitaryarrangement of bags that can be used for hand and machine packaging.These packages must be so arranged that even the most flimsy bagmaterial can be readily opened and packed with the least amount of timeand eifort. 7

Consumers purchasing merchandise under our present system must not onlybe satisfied with the appearance of the product but must be sold inaddition by the package within which it is contained. In the competitivebattle for sales, the product must be formed and packaged so that itwill sell itself, be easily handled by sales people and consumer, andstimulate impulse sales.

In accordance with the invention claimed a new and improved package orstrip of open ended bags and meth od of packaging is provided. Thepackage comprises a supporting member extending longitudinally orlaterally of the package. A plurality of bags are arranged along themember in an overlying arrangement with a portion of each bag being incontact with the supporting member. Each of the bags may have itsopening at the same end of the package with each preceding bag in agiven direction along the strip in one embodiment of the inventionoverlying the opening of the following bag. An adhesive means isarranged between one side of each of the bags adjacent its opening andthe supporting member for temporarily holding the bags to the supportingmember. 7

The new and improved method of filling open ended bags detachablysecured to a strip in an overlying arrangement comprises the steps ofmoving the strip in a given direction, spreading the opening of thefirst bag on the strip in the direction of movement of the strip,filling the bag with a given product, removing the bag from the stripand moving the strip to position the opening of a second bag adjacentthe opening means.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a new andimproved package of wrapping material useable for both hand and machinewrapping of given prodnew and improved package of open endedbags inwhich the bags are positioned in an overlying arrangement with eachpreceding bag in a given direction along the package overlyingtheopening of a following bag. 7 I

A still" further "o'ojexzt of this invention is to provide a new andimproved package of bags which are arranged along a supporting strip insuch a manner that one portion of each bag is detachably held.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved package of open ended bags in which one side only of the bagopening is temporarily held to a bag supporting strip.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved strip of overlying bags in which each bag is detachably held toa supporting strip by one bag side of its opening.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved package of open ended bags which may be used for both firm andflimsy bag materials.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved method of packaging articles in bags.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved strip of overlying bags which are sanitarily mranged for bothhand and machine packaging.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved strip of overlying bags in which the openings of the bags arepositioned laterally of the length of the supporting strip.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following discription when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a diagrammatical illustration of a pluralityof bags mounted in an overlaying arrangement on a supporting strip andembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 illustrating thebag supporting arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of a modification of the structure shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating a continuous arrangement of the backingstrip;

FIG. 4 is a partial illustration of a modification of the structureshown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 isa diagrammatical illustration of a vertical automatic bagfilling arrangement illustrating the use of a continuous strip ofoverlying bags embodying the article and method of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical illustration of a modification of thestructure shown in FIG. 5 wherein the bags are opened and loaded in ahorizontal direction; and

FIG. 7 is a modification of the structure shown in FIGS. 14 wherein thebag openings are arranged laterally of the length of the supportingstrip.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference,FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a package 10 of open ended pouches or bags 11.The bags may be of any size varying over a considerable range and formedof any suitable paper or plastic including the modern filmsy thintransparent wrapping materials such as regenerated cellulose of themoisture proof type or any similar moisture proof transparent orsemi-transparent material hereinafter referred to as packaging material.The forming of the pouches or bags may be accomplished in any suitablemanner and the sealing shut of the bags" open ends may be effected afterpackaging of the given articles in any suitable manner which may be, forexample by heat sealing, stapling, clamping or by the application I ofan adhesive depending on the article packed. It will be:'

understood that the invention is not limitedto any particular bag orsize or manner of sealing it. It is feasible in some uses of theinvention to feed the articles into the I bags by either hand or by handcontrolled mechanism,

but it is also readily adapted to packaging automatically in timedrelationship.

Bags 11 are positioned in a staggered overlying arrange-v ment along astrip 12 serving as a mounting support for the bags. Each bag isarranged with its open end at a common end of package It) in such'anarrangement that each preceding bag in a givendirection along thelongitudinal axis of 'strip l2voverlies the opening of the fol- Thebacking strip 12 may lowing bag. 'This is an important sanitary featureof this packaging arrangement since it covers" and keeps closedall bagsalong the strip other than the first bag in the sequence by thepreceding bags.

Each of the bags are detachably secured to the supporting strip 12 by asuitable adhesive which may be applied to either the strip or bags inany suitable manner. -As

medium of the adhesive. It is intended to be within the scope of thisinvention to apply adhesive to the side'of the open ends of the bagsadjacent the strip which adhesive on the bags could-later be used insealing or holding the bags closed if so desired. Although a pair ofadhesive strips 14 and15 are shown inFIG. 1 011cm more strips maybeused.

of package 10 as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 with the closed sides and ends ofthe bags extending therebeyond or the strip could extend out any greaterlength along the lon'gif f tudinal axis of package 10. 7

The top part of the hacking strip maybe used for advertising materialand an aperture 15 may be formed therein for suitably mounting the stripforhand filling in home or factory. By adhering only the back side ofeach bag to the backing'strips 12 thebag is. held to the strip while thefront side of the opening may be readily grasped by-the .1 it may beremoved'fromuthe stripby merely pulling. the

back side'ofthe bag opening from the, supporting strip 12. '1

Thus, the packaging arrangement of bags shown in- FIGS. 1 and 2"maybeeasily mounted and readily used user and held open while the bag' isloaded after which while at thesame time keeping the openings of thestack of bags, below :the top bag s'anita'rily covered Since many of themodern day flimsy bag materials are difficult to handle. and'fill, thedisclosed package makes possible the storing, filling anduse of suchbags easily, efii'ciently 7 and with the minimumtamonntofdifiiculty. p tI FIG. 3 illustrates a modification of the package shown int FIGS. l and'2 wherein the supporting strip 16 coma} prises a plurality of mountingstrips 12*each intercon- 'neetedwith theothersby perforation lines 17.Thus, the

supporting strip16 comprises apluraiity of packages 10,. arranged inanextended 'strip'and containing any number 'ofbags depending on thenumber ofrnounting strips 12 contained in strips 16. A plurality ofnotches or aperturesq 29 are arranged along the; edges of strip 16 forautomaticfl indexing. InFIG. 3 the view shows the bagsremoved atj thetop 'of strip 16, namely-from the top mounting strip 1 3 12, and thebags from the centerv portionof stripifi are shown as overlying andcovering the bags on the lower] '7 mountings trip- 12, Thus; theg topopening'of thebags on the lower mounting strip 12 of strip 16 are'notshown;

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the structuresshown handorautomatic bag loading;

i (FIGS); 5 audfd illustrate schematically sh'nplefmachine 1 j;tructureSaI Or.vertically and 'hori'zonta1ly loading the i bag's usiugn'xtendedior continuous strip of bags mount t e'don suitable mountingand supporting strips of thet y pe" 'shown l -4 ;.Th'eimachines shownlin l lGisii-f and-6 wouldbeffoirhand'btautomatic.loading. ;Th

extend'along only a portion Oneend of strip 20'is strung aroundidleroller 22','pin whee/1'23 and supporting tape, board or :paperrewound roller 24. A suitable opening means maybe arranged adjacent idleroller 22 such as a vacuum'cup 25. The

5 vacuum cup 215 draws the unattached side of the bag opening away fromthe attached side of the bag opening ceive its storage and packagingcharge.

After bag 10 is loaded it either f 'llsjaway from the supportingstriplfldue to, the weight'of the packaged material or is removed from strip inany suitable manner Where it falls or is placed 'on the horizontallymovable V conveyor 27. v I

FIG. 6 illustratesa modification of the structure shown 20 in FIG. '5wherein the rewind roller 24 is moved from r the position shown in FIG.5 to provide space for hori- 'zontal productloading table 28. Air jet 26is relocated idle roller 22. The vacuum cup 25 is not shown herein 25but may be used if so desired: 'Idle roller 22 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6may be eliminated and pin wheel 23 serve its function to save costs, andsuitable stripping fingers (not shown) can be added to pull the filledbags off ofthe strip after'being loaded if positive automatic action isdesired. Hand loading may occur .with'the structures of FIGS.

5 and 6 after-the air jets 26; have opened the bags at the loadingpositiong The operator pushes or drops the prodnot into the open bag.The bag is'then pulled from the backing or supporting stripr 20 anddropped on conveyor 27 and moved on to a sealing position (not shown).The t operator'of the machine then closes a switch (notshown) in a knownmanner'which indexes pin wheel 23 just far enough to supply another bag.As stated before strip 20 is properly notched'or apertured so that itsuitably en- I gages 'pin wheel 23. p

be provided with suitable notches or apertures 29 for auto- .jmaticindexing or anyother known indexing method may 3]: also be used. Rewindroller. 24 is driven through a slip drive to get rid of the backing orsupportingstrip 29. Pin wheel. 23 can be either motor driven or manuallyH advanced through suitable linkage (notshown to a foot pedal.v Suchaction could also besupplied-to rewind roller24. y 1* I p Automaticloading wouldfoccurl-in the same sequence as above described for" thehand operation except a motor drive would probably tie all of. the.operations together timers. I

of'bags shown in FIGS. 1-4 wherein thepackageorstrip of bags 30comprises a supporting stripfil extending along the lengthof stripairbags-'30 having a plurality of open 7 ended bags32- detach'ablysecured. to strip Siby an adhejuxtapositionedsurfaces. vBag's'32fiare'so 'arrangedthat @their. openings extend laterally of thelongitudiualaxis'of the'paekage' or'strip elf-bags 39;; 'Although ztheopenings:

i bags 3 2f-are shown at one cornmon'side of ,the'package or strip: theycould "open "t'f'either 'side'or some of as shown'to open the bags asthey pass over the crest of a As noted from FIGJS strip 16 may in onecontinuoussequence of operations with'program I FIG. '7 illustrates'amodification of the package or 's'trip 'sive "33. applied either toth'efbags or strip along their modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A package of open ended bags comprising a supporting strip extendinglongitudinally of the package, a plurality of open ended bags arrangedalong said strip in an overlying arrangement with a portion of each ofsaid bags being in contact with said strip, means for securing at leasta portion of each of said bags to said strip with the opening of each ofsaid bags being arranged at the same end of the package with eachpreceding bag in a given direction along said strip overlying andclosing the opening of the following bag.

2. A package of open ended bags comprising a supporting strip extendinglongitudinally of the package, an adhesive arranged on one side of saidstrip along its length, and a plurality of open ended bags arrangedalong said strip in an overlying arrangement with a portion of each ofsaid bags being in contact with said adhesive, each of said bags havingits opening at the same end of the package with each preceding bag in agiven direction along said strip overlying and closing the opening ofthe following bag.

3. A package of open ended bags comprising a supporting member extendinglongitudinally of the package, a plurality of open-ended bags arrangedalong said member in an overlying arrangement with a portion of each ofsaid bags being in contact with said member, each of said bags havingits opening at the same end of the package with each preceding bag in agiven direction along said member overlying and closing the opening ofthe following bag, and adhesive means arranged between one side of eachof said bags adjacent its opening and said member for temporarilyholding said bags to said member.

4. A strip of open ended bags comprising a flexible supporting member, aplurality of open ended bags arranged longitudinally along said memberin an overlying arrangement with one side of the opening of each of saidbags being in contact with said member, each of said bags having itsopening facing toward the same end of said member with each precedingbag in a given direction along said strip overlying and closing theopening of the following bag, adhesive means arranged between said oneside of said opening of each of said bags and said member for detachablyholding said bags to said member, and perforations arranged at spacedintervals along said member for removing portions of said strip and saidbags from said member.

5. A strip of open ended bags comprising a supporting member, aplurality of open ended bags arranged longitudinally along said memberin an overlying arrangement with a portion of each of said bags being incontact with said member, each of said bags having its opening facingtoward the same end of said strip with each preceding bag in a givendirection along said strip overlying and closing the opening of thefollowing bag, and adhesive means arranged between one side of each ofsaid bags adjacent its opening and said member for temporarily holdingsaid bags to said member, said supporting'means being provided with aplurality of indexing means arranged along its length for automaticmachine use of said strip.

6. A strip of open ended bags comprising a flexible supporting member, aplurality of open ended bags arranged longitudinally along said memberin an overlying arrangement with one side of the opening of each of saidbags being in contact with said member, each preceding bag in a givendirection along said strip overlying and closing the opening of thefollowing bag, adhesive means arranged between said one side of saidopening of each of said bags and said member for detachably holding saidbags to said member, and perforations arranged at spaced intervals alongsaid member for removing portions of said strip and said bags from saidmember, said supporting means being provided with a plurality ofindexing means arranged along its length for automatic machine use ofsaid strip.

7. A strip of open ended bags comprising a flexible supporting member, aplurality of open ended bags arranged longitudinally along said memberin an overlying arrangement with one side of the opening of each of saidbags being in contact with said member, each of said bags having itsopening facing toward the same end of said member with each precedingbag in a given direction along said strip overlying and closing theopening of the following bag, adhesive means arranged between said oneside of said opening of each of said bags and said member for detachablyholding said bags to said member, and perforations arranged at spacedintervals along said member for removing portions of said strip and saidbags from said member, said supporting means being provided with aplurality of indexing means arranged along its length for automaticmachine use of said strip.

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6. A STRIP OF OPEN ENDED BAGS COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING MEMBER, APLURALITY OF OPEN ENDED BAGS ARRANGED LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID MEMBERIN AN OVERLYING ARRANGEMENT WITH ONE SIDE OF THE OPENING OF EACH OF SAIDBAGS BEING IN CONTACT WITH SAID MEMBER, EACH PRECEDING BAG IN A GIVENDIRECTION ALONG SAID STRIP OVERLYING AND CLOSING THE OPENING OF THEFOLLOWING BAG, ADHESIVE MEANS ARRANGED BETWEEN SAID ONE SIDE OF SAIDOPENING OF EACH OF SAID BAGS AND SAID MEMBER FOR DETACHABLY HOLDING SAIDBAGS TO SAID MEMBER, AND PERFORATIONS ARRANGED AT SPACED INTERVALS ALONGSAID MEMBER FOR REMOVING PORTIONS OF SAID STRIP AND SAID BAGS FROM SAIDMEMBER, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OFINDEXING